NEWS

The induction and installation of our new Rector, The Revd Graham Naylor, is to be at 7.30pm on Monday 17th February at Holy Trinity, Bungay. All are warmly welcome to attend. Graham will officiate at his first Sunday service in Barsham on 23rdFebruary.

We were delighted to welcome the Revd Philip Merry when he officiated at his first service at Barsham on Sunday 12th January. Philip is a recently retired clergyman with PTO (Permission to Officiate).

The figurines of the three Magi and their camel accomplished their arduous journey along the nave windowsills in the weeks leading up to the Feast of the Epiphany (front cover photo) on 6th January, arriving at the crib in time for the celebration of Epiphany at Sunday service the previous day.

An audit of the church visitors book affords an insight into how far visitors have travelled and usually also the impact the building has had on them. Some say why they have come.

Compared with the previous year, 2024 saw a significant reduction in the number of people signing the visitors book, with 91 entries representing 123 people (in 2023 112 entries representing 219 people). The figures for 2024 were similar to those of 2022 (83 entries representing 131 people). As usual there were visitors from several States of the USA (New York, Virginia, Florida, Texas and Washington) and two separate visits from New Zealanders. Within the UK there were visitors from Northern Ireland and Scotland, and from 19 of the 48 English geographical counties. Visitors from Suffolk and its neighbours Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire made up 72% of all entries. Three sets of visitors were following up ancestral links: marriages at Barsham and burials in the churchyard. Visitors typically commented on the visual beauty of the church (‘truly magnificent’, ‘unusually charming’, ‘stunning’, ‘amazing’, ‘true gem’ etc), others on the less tangible (‘such a peaceful sanctuary’, ‘really nice atmosphere’ etc), and more than a few expressed thanks for the building being open.

The PCC met for routine bi-monthly business in the second week of January. It was confirmed that a legacy from the estate of the late Alan Bartram has now been received and is restricted to the Fabric Account. Alan was a longstanding and loyal member of Barsham Church, attending from the mid 1970s until his death in 2021. For a number of years Alan played the organ and he often mentioned how well the late Miss Turney of Barsham Forge tutored him, especially in the operation of the foot pedals. Unfortunately, in later years Alan suffered from arthritis, which restricted his ability to play, but he still managed to provide a sponsored musical accompaniment in the church during the ‘Ride and Stride’ events. He was also a stalwart member of the choir, revelling in the liturgy of High Anglican worship. Alan sat on the PCC and contributed much behind the scenes, ever ready to volunteer for extra duties or to help colleagues. He was renowned for his dedicated work in maintaining the church in its smart appearance and especially for his expert and thorough brass cleaning efforts. Only a short while before he died and although not at all well, in a final act of devoted service, he determinedly aided Colin in the pruning of the overgrown yews either side of the church path. (With thanks to Colin for the details of this tribute).

Donations for the Christmas card tree enabled us to send £102.00 to WaterAid for the funding of a standpipe.

The congregation donated 255 items to the Food Bank in December, bringing the total number of donations in 2024 to 2,283 items. This is only a little less than the totals in the previous two years: 2,346 in 2023 and 2,352 in 2022. The Food Bank in Beccles is always so grateful for our support. Many thanks to Amy for continuing to administer this service and to everyone who contributes.

FORWARD PLANNING

A Spectrum of Song, Saturday 8th March, 10am-4pm at St Mary's Church, Halesworth. This event is advertised as ‘a vibrant workshop for all who enjoy singing music for worship. From Tallis to Townsend - an enthralling musical journey through Christian worship music. Explore a wealth of eclectic styles, from the music of the early church to the vibrant sounds of today's worship. Something for everyone!’.

The workshop is to be led by Richard Hubbard, St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Music Development Director.

Tickets cost £10 from www.stedscathedral.org/inharmony, OR contact Jason Busby (Organist at St. Mary's Halesworth) via [email protected] or on 07817863533 to book a ticket and pay on the day.

SNIPPETS – The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy

This poem of 1900 describes in somewhat bleak terms a winter landscape, Hardy’s metaphor for what he saw as the decay of Western culture at the close of the 19th century. In the second half of the poem however, he introduces a singing thrush as a symbol of hope and renewal. The bird represents religious faith and devotion, which Hardy sees as a solution to the cultural crisis alluded to in the first half of the poem. 125 years on, at a time of wars and threats of wars, climate change and the depletion of nature, the rise of extremism and the loss of decency in public discourse, the message in The Darkling Thrushseems more than ever relevant.

I

I leant upon a coppice gate

When Frost was spectre-grey,

And Winter's dregs made desolate

The weakening eye of day.

The tangled bine-stems scored the sky

Like strings of broken lyres,

And all mankind that haunted nigh

Had sought their household fires.

II

The land's sharp features seemed to be

The Century's corpse outleant,

His crypt the cloudy canopy,

The wind his death-lament.

The ancient pulse of germ and birth

Was shrunken hard and dry,

And every spirit upon earth

Seemed fervourless as I.

III

At once a voice arose among

The bleak twigs overhead

In a full-hearted evensong

Of joy illimited;

An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,

In blast-beruffled plume,

Had chosen thus to fling his soul

Upon the growing gloom.

IV

So little cause for carolings

Of such ecstatic sound

Was written on terrestrial things

Afar or nigh around,

That I could think there trembled through

His happy good-night air

Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew

And I was unaware.

FEBRUARY DIARY

Sunday 2nd February – Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Jonathan Olanczuk.

Sunday 9th February – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany: the Baptism of Christ. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Canon John Fellows.

Sunday 16th February – Sixth Sunday after Epiphany. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Desmond Banister.

Sunday 23rd February – Seventh Sunday after Epiphany. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Graham Naylor.

Church correspondent: Robert Bacon 07867 306016, [email protected]